Solenoid winding machine



Nov. 12, 1968 1, v RONDAs 3,410,317

SOLENOID WINDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IVAN VIRGIL RONDAS fl BX l HIS ATTORNEYS Nov. 12, 1968 1. v. RONDAS ,3

SOLENOID WINDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1964 6 SheetsSheet 2 IN VE N TOR IVAN VIRGIL RONDAS ATTORNEYS BY mwl W" HIS Nov. 12, 1968 v. RONDAS 3,410,317

SOLENOID WINDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 HIS ATTORNEYS Nov. 12, 1968 l. v. RONDAS SOLENOID WINDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept 16, 1964 ill! 6 y J mmmmm 5 RD ON T 0 NR r Wu HIS ATTORNEYS Nov. 12, 1968 v RONDAS SOLENOID WINDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 16, 1964 7 6 w. 6 m u 44 d J m 3! 7 w wm w H 3 l H I. 6 W 2 EH H B m T I m 5 I 32 4 M m x 3 8 4 5 4 a r IJ m ,1, 4 4 8 INVEN TOR I VAN VIRGIL RONDAS HIS ATTORNEYS Nov. 12, 1968 Filed Sept. 16, 1964 l. v. RONDAS 3,410,317

SOLENOID WINDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 2, Feed Tube Head Column Wuidlng Cycle Wmdmg CyCle l ;iRow Index ng wmdmg Penod I Column Indexmg one i I P d Period I I m n e Tme Second Q 2, Feed Tube Hea d 3w N s 2 '2 (OsclHotory Movement) W W V 3 (Verflcal Posmon) Follow Bar Head (Vemcal Posmon) g, Array Form(Fr0nf To Rear Posmon) 5, Array Form( Left To Rlghi Pasmon) INVENTOR IVAN VIRGIL RONDAS HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,410,317 SOLENOID WINDING MAQHINE Ivan Virgil Rondas, Compton, Calif., assignor to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Filed Sept. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 396,914 11 Claims. (Cl. 140-93) The present invention is directed to an electrical solenoid Winding machine and more particularly to a machine for winding solenoid arrays in a new and improved manner.

In my copending United States patent application Ser. No. 206,759, filed on July 2, 1962, now Patent No. 3,279,708, an electrical solenoid winding machine has been disclosed that simultaneously winds all the solenoids in one row on an array of solenoid forms or pins fixed to a nonrotatable support. After the machine winds a row of solenoids, the support for the solenoids is indexed relative to the solenoid winding elements, so that the next row of solenoids can be wound by the machine on the next row of pins. The machine inherently serieswinds the solenoids in each column from an integral or continuous length of conductor. After all the solenoids are wound on the array of solenoid forms, the conductors, forming the solenoids in the respective columns, are cut from their respective feeding means; the support is removed from the machine; and the array of solenoids is potted with a suitable plastic compound forming a rigid panel having solenoids, arranged in rows and columns, with the axes of the solenoids disposed parallel to each other. Multiple panels, having the same spacing and pattern between solenoids, are placed in a congruent stack so that bistable magnetic rods can be readily inserted through the aligned solenoid openings to form a magnetic rod memory matrix, for example, as disclosed in a commonly assigned, copending US. patent application Ser. No. 347,184, filed on Feb. 25, 1964, now Patent No. 3,315,241, inventor Donal A. Meier. Each magnetic rod of that particular memory stores a multidigit word, and therefore, during a read operation, the solenoid coils in each panel are used as a digit sense winding. To convert the solenoid coils in the panel, as produced by my prior machine, into a digit sense winding, the series-connected solenoid coils in one column have been connected in series with the series-connected coils in another column. This operation has been performed by soldering the conductor extending from one end of one column to the conductor extending from one end of another column. This is a very costly and tedious operation especially when it is performed on a panel array of 256 solenoid coils arranged in rows and columns confined within an area of less than one square inch.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a machine for producing a coordinate array of solenoids in which the solenoid coils in one column and the solenoid coils in another column are connected in series and are formed from the same integral or continous length of conductor.

Another object is to provide a machine for automatically winding a coordinate array of solenoid coils wherein the machine loops back the conductor, after winding the solenoid coils in one column, and returns the conductor along a path adjacent to the straight lengths of conductor between the various solenoid coils before winding the solenoid coils in another column to produce a panel of solenoid coils wherein the stray circular magnetic fields formed around the straight length of conductor between solenoid coils are substantially cancelled.

Another object is to provide .a machine for winding a solenoid array on an array of solenoid pins fixed to a support wherein the support is held stationary, while a feed tube having a conductor passing therethrough orbits about one of the pins and a stationary follow bar folds the conductor extending from the top of the last wound solenoid coils thereagainst and holds it as the feed tube winds the next solenoid coil.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as a disclosure is made in the following detailed description of a pre ferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a solenoid winding machine showing a preferred illustrative embodiment of the present invention for winding solenoid arrays;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the gear train shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the table assembly of the machine showing the machine winding the first two solenoid coils on the array form;

FIG. 3a is a plan view of the row indexing assembly ready to release and return the carrier plate to the forward position;

FIG. 3b is a plan view of the row indexing assembly ready to stop the carrier plate in the forward position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional front elevation of the table assembly of the machine;

FIG. 5 is a sectional side elevation of the table assembly of the machine;

FIG. 6 is a top View of a portion of the feed tube head and follow bar head showing a portion of the solenoid array form, feed tubes, and follow bar in a larger scale than the remaining structure;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged pictorial view of a portion of the solenoid array form being wound with solenoids;

FIG. 7a is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the solenoid array form showing the path of the two feed tubes, each orbiting around a respective pin;

FIG. 7b is an enlarged elevation of a portion of the solenoid array form showing the follow bar folding the conductor against the last wound solenoid and the feed tube winding another solenoid;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the column indexing assembly moving the carrier plate to the right;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the column indexing assembly which has been manually released allowing the array form to move to the left of the machine;

FIG. 10 is a graphical representation of the movements of the various parts of the machine; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged pictoral view in partial section of one of the conductor reel units shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The machine has a base plate 21 which supports a gear train 22, an electric motor 24, and a table assembly 23. The table assembly 23 supports a solenoid array form 26 for movement in two orthogonal directions under a conductor supply means 29. The movement of the array form 26 in one direction is produced by a sliding block 44 slidably mounted within a dovetail groove 45, disposed parallel to the front of the machine and formed in a fixed plate 25 of the table assembly 23. The movement of the array form 26 in the other =dircetion is pnodrlced by a solenoid carrier plate 33 slidably mounted within a ldovetail groove 34, disposed front to rear of the machine and formed in the sliding block 44. The solenoid carrier plate 33 supports the solenoid array form 26 under a conductor feed or guide tube head 37 and a follow bar heard 46. The machine provides for winding an array of individual solenoid coils 3-6 (as shown in FIG. 7) on respective pins 27 mounted in a die plate 2 8 of the array form 26. For clarity, the

portion of the array form 26 in FIG. 7 is shown greatly enlarged. For example, the pins 27 are arranged sixteen to a row and sixteen to a column wherein the rows are oriented parallel to the fornt of the machine and the columns front to rear of the machine. The two hundred fifty-six pins in the array form 26 occupy an area less than one square inch. Conductors 31 which are wound onto the pins 27 to form the solenoid coils 36 are supplied by the conductor supply means 29 (FIG. 1), supported above the feed tube head 37, as shown.

After the machine winds the solenoid coils 36 on all the pins 27 of the array form 26, an array of solenoid coils is produced and arranged in rows and columns corresponding to the location of individual solenoid pins 27 of the array form 26. The machine winds the array of solenoid coils 36 by winding coils on two pins 27 at a time by moving the array form 26 below the feed tube head 37 in three distinct directions which are: (1) indexing the array form 26 in equal increments to successive pin positions from front to rear until all the coils in two columns are wound, (2) returning the array form 26 in one step to its :prior position in front of the machine, and (3) indexing the array form in equal increments to successive positions from left to right so that two more columns of pins 27 may be wound with coils. Referring to FIGS. 7, 7a and 7b, each time two new pins are disposed under the feed tube head 37, a follow bar head 46 is dropped to hold the conductors 31 against the die plate 28, and the feed tube head 37 is set into circular oscillatory motion by the gear train 22, so that each of the two feed tubes 38 in the feed tube head 37 orbits around a respective pin disposed under the head. (The orbiting paths of the feed tubes 38 are shown in FIG. 7a.) The pitch of the turns of the solenoid coils 36 is control-led by two cams 146 (FIG. 2) which gradually lift cam followers 147 and, in turn, the feed tube head 37 upwardly while the two coils are being wound. The follow bar head 46 includes a follow bar 47 (see FIG. 7b) which folds and holds each conductor 31 against each of the previously wound coils and against the die plate 28. After two coils are wound, two other cams 151 (FIG. 2) lift cam followers 152 and, in turn, the follow bar head 46 sufliciently so that the follow bar 47 clears the pins 27 before the next row of pins on array form 26 is indexed under the feed tube head 37. A row indexing assembly 32 (FIG. 1), mounted on the sliding block 4 4, performs the row indexing operation. Since the feed tubes 38 stop and start from an oblique position with respect to the columns and rows of pins 27 (as shown in FIG. 7a), the feed tubes 38 are able to pass between the pins 27 Whenever the array form 26 is indexed in either direction. After all the coils in the first two columns are wound, the now indexing assembly 32 releases the array form in a manner to be later described and, in turn, the array form 26 is pulled to the front of the machine by a spring 41 (FIG. 1). Since the array form 26 is pulled to the front of the machine, the conductor lengths 31a (FIG. 7) from the last wound solenoids 36a in one column are respectively laid down near the conductor lengths 31b connecting solenoids 36 in the SBlIIlB column. This procedure substantially cancels the stray magnetic field formed around the lengths 31b when current fiows through the conductors. After the array form 26 is returned to the front of the machine, a column indexing assembly 43 (FIG. 1), mounted on the fixed plate 25, indexes the array form two columns to the right. The pins in the third and fourth columns are wound next.

As shown in FIG, 7, the same continuous conductor that wound the coils in the first column is used to wind the coils in the third column, and the same continuous conductor that wound the coils in the second column is used to wind the coils in the fourth column. After the solenoid coils 36 are wound on all the pins 27 on the solenoid array form 26, the form is ready to be removed from the machine. The form 12.6 i t moved manually after lifting the feed tube head 37 out of the way by rotating a suitable lever 40 (FIG. 1). The lever 40 rotates a shaft 53- and disks 54, fixed to the shaft 53. Suitable pins 55 on the disks 54 raise the head 37. After the array form 26 is removed, the two conductors 31 are cut. The array of solenoid coils 36 is now ready to be potted with a dielectric plastic material. A suitable mold (not shown) is placed around the array of solenoid coils with the the plate 28 of the array for-m 26 forming one surface of the mold. The suitable dielectric material is invested around the solenoid coils in a standard manner. After curing, the invested array of solenoid coils and solid dielectric material are removed from the mold. Also, the die plate and the pins 27 are removed from the coils to provide a solenoid panel (not shown) wherein the axes of the coils are disposed parallel to each other and the spacing between the coils axes is accurately maintained. Multiple solenoid panels, produced in this manner, can be stacked with magnetic rods inserted through corresponding solenoid coils in each panel to form the memory, for example, as disclosed in the abovementioned Donal A. Meier application.

The solenoid winding machine, shown in FIG. 1, includes the conductor supply means 29 for supplying two continuous length conductors 31 to respective feed tubes 38 in the head 37 The two feed tubes 38 feed succeeding portions of the conductors 31 to the respective pins 27 to wind two solenoid coils 36 at a time in the same row. Indexing of successive rows of pins 27 below the feed tube head 37 provides for sequentially winding the coils in two columns, wherein the coils in each column are connected in series and formed from the same continuous length conductor 31. Indexing of successive columns, two at a time, below the feed tube head 37 provides for winding the next two columns of pins 27 with solenoid coils so that the coils in alternate columns throughout the array are connected in series and are formed from the same continuous length conductor 31.

The gear train 22 of the solenoid winding machine produces, when it is powered by the electric motor 24, the various movements required to wind the array of solenoid coils 36. Briefly, these movements comprise: (1) an intermittent horizontal front-to-rear movement of the solenoid carrier plate 33 for indexing each row of pins 27 successively under the feed tube head 27; (2) a downward movement of the follow bar 47 to fold and tuck each conductor against a respective previously wound coil and to hold the conductors 31 against the die plate 28; (3) a downward movement of the feed tube head 37 so that the first turn of the coil is formed against the die plate 28', (4) a circular oscillatory movement of the feed tube head 37 in a horizontal plane for orbiting the feed tubes 38 around respective pins 27; (5) an upward vertical movement of the feed tube head 37 during the winding of the coils to provide for the pitch in the turns thereof; (6) an upward movement of the follow bar 47 after the coils are wound; and (7) a horizontal left-to-right movement of the sliding block 44 for indexing the next two columns of pins under the feed tube head 37. The combination of these seven movements provides for the winding of a complete array of solenoid coils wherein one column of solenoid coils is connected in series with another column of solenoid coils and the solenoids in both columns are formed from a continuous length conductor.

In general, in order to wind an array of solenoid coils 36 on an array form 26 with the machine described herein, the array form 26 is placed on the carrier plate 33, after the feed tube head 37 is lifted out of the way by lever 40. The follow bar head 46 is being held up above the carrier plate 33 because the motor 24 has been stopped after the gear train lifted the follow bar head 46 above the pins 27. The array form 26 is aligned with the carrier plate 33 by dowels 35 (see FIG. 3) fitting into alignment holes in the die plate 28. The carrier plate 33 is in the extreme forward position of the machine as determined by the row-indexing assembly 32 and the sliding block 44 is in the extreme left position as determined by the column indexing assembly 43 (see FIG. 3). After the feed tube head 37 is released by the lever 40, the two feed tubes 38 are positioned to the rear and right of the first two pins 27a to be wound, more clearly shown in FIG. 6. (Only one corner of the pins on the array form 26 is shown in FIG. 6 for clarity, and the portion of the feed tube head 37 over the array form is shown by dash lines.) The machine starts to wind coils when a switch 52 (FIG. 1) for the motor 24 is closed.

After the switch 52 for the motor 24 is closed, the motor 24 actuates the gear train 22 to cause the feed tube head 37 and the follow bar head 46 to drop toward the die plate 28 of the array form 26. Thus, the follow bar 47 is able to hold the loose ends of the conductors against the die plate 28 and the feed tubes 38 are able to place the first turn of the coils 36 near the die plate. The winding of the coils 36 on any two pins adjacent the respective feed tubes 38 is accomplished by the combination of two synchronized movements. Referring to FIG. 10, these two synchronized movements and the other movements mentioned above are shown in graph form. wherein the abscissa denotes time and the ordinate denotes distance. The two synchronized movements that cause the coils 36 to be wound are the circular, oscillatory movement (FIG. a) and the upward, vertical movement (FIG. 10b) of the feed tube head 37. The circular oscillatory motion of the feed tube head 37 causes the two feed tubes 38 to orbit in a circular path, for example, five times about respective pins 27, which are indexed under the head 37, thus winding the conductors 31 around the pins. The upward, vertical movement of the head 37, during the oscillatory motion, positions the conductors 31 vertically on respective pins 27 to produce a single layer of turns of a predetermined pitch on each of the pins. The upward movement of the feed tube head 37 during the winding period of a row winding cycle is in a direction parallel to the axes of the coils 36, as illustrated in FIG. 101;. After the first two turns are formed on the coils, the follow her 47 is no longer needed to hold the loose ends of the conductors 31 against the die plate 28, and the follow bar head 46 starts to rise (FIG. 10c). As mentioned before, the follow bar head 46 rises a greater vertical distance than the feed tube head 37 in order to clear the pins 27 while the feed tubes 38 are able to pass between the pins 27 whenever the solenoid carrier plate 33 is indexed. After the winding period which is, for example, .58 of a second, a row indexing period follows in which the solenoid carrier plate 33 is indexed by the row indexing assembly 32 one incremental step to the rear of the machine, as illustrated in FIG. 10d. Afterwards the feed tube head 37 and the follow bar head 46 are both lowered (FIGS. 10]; and 100) to start the second row winding cycle. During the row indexing period, a dwell period is provided for the feed tube head 37. The dwell period or row indexing period is, for example, .23 of a second, or two-sevenths of a row winding cycle which is .81 of a second.

The row winding period and the dwell period are repeated for each row winding cycle. As mentioned before, after the last or sixteenth row is wound, the solenoid carrier plate 33 is again indexed to the rear by the row indexing assembly 32. However, referring to FIG. 3a, the row indexing assembly 32 is tripped, in a manner to be described hereinafter, by a rod 130 attached to and extending horizontally from the carrier plate 33. After the row indexing asembly 32 is in the tripped position as shown in FIG. 3b, spring 41 is able to pull the carrier plate 33 to the front of the machine as illustrated by the timing diagram of FIG. 10d. Immediately after the sixteenth row winding cycle follows the column indexing period. The column indexing operation is performed after the carrier plate 33 reaches its forward position, by the column indexing assembly 43, stepping the carrier plate 33 leftto-right, as shown by FIG. 10e. This procedure positions the next two columns of pins in line with the feed tube head 37. A dwell period is provided for the row indexing assembly 32, feed tube head 37, and follow bar head 46 during the end portion of each column winding cycle. This dwell period is, for example, 1.63 seconds long or one-ninth of a column winding cycle which is 14.59 seconds.

When the next two columns of pins are positioned under the head 37, another column winding cycle starts. The column winding cycle is repeated eight times, since, as mentioned before, there are sixteen columns of pins 27, or until all the solenoid coils in the array are wound. Then, when the array form 26 reaches its position at the front of the machine, the motor 24 is turned off by opening the switch 52 (FIG. 1) and the array form 26, with the solenoid coils 36 wound on the pins 27, is removed from the machine. Before an array of solenoid coils is wound on another array form 26, the column indexing assembly 43 is released manually (FIG. 9) so that another spring 51 is able to pull the block 44 to the starting position at the left of the machine. An array of solenoids on another array form 26 is wound by starting the motor 24 after the other array form 26 has been placed on the carrier plate 33.

Referring again to FIG. 1 for a more detailed description of the solenoid winding machine, the main support and housing structure for the winding machine are shown to include the base plate 21 to which are fixed a vertical motor support plate 56, and five vertical bearing support plates 57 to 61 for supporting the motor 24 and gear train 22. The table assembly 23 is supported above the base plate 21, as shown, with the fixed plate 25 of the table assembly 23 suitably bolted to two upright plates 63 and 64, made of, for example, plastic and disposed at the front and at the rear of the machine, respectively. Plastic plates 63 and 64 provide sufficient flexibility to allow the table assembly 23 to move forward in case of a mechanical jam-up to cause the disengagement of spur gears 66 and 67 from spur gears 68 and 69 respectively. Gear 66 supplies power to actuate the column indexing asembly 43, and gear 67 supplies power to actuate the row indexing assembly 32.

As mentioned before, the column indexing assembly 43 indexes the solenoid array form 26 two columns to the right after the coils 36 in the first two columns are wound. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a column indexing operation is performed every time the motor 24 makes one revolution in the following manner: A flexible coupler 71 couples the motor 24 to a shaft 72 that is bearing mounted to bearing support plates 57 and 58. A spur gear 73 (FIG. 2) keyed to the left end of shaft 72'engages and rotates another spur gear 75 on shaft 74 at a one-to-one ratio (1: 1). Shaft 74 is bearing mounted to bearing plates 58 and 60 and rotates (1:1) a shaft 76 through a chain 77 engaging sprockets 78 and 79 on shafts 74 and 76, respectively. The gear 68, that rotates (1:1) gear 66, is keyed to the shaft 76. Gear 66 is, in turn, keyed at one end to a shaft 81 that is bearing mounted to two bearing tabs 82 (see FIGS. 1 and 4) depending from and bolted to opposite ends of the fixed plate 25, thereby positioning shaft 81 under the fixed plate 25. Approximately, at the center of the shaft 81 is keyed a helical gear 83 (FIG. 2) that rotates (1:1) another helical gear 84 for transmitting rotational motion upward degrees to a shaft 86 and to the column in dexing assembly 43. The shaft 86 extends through a bore 85 (FIG. 5) in the fixed plate 25 and. is suitably bearing mounted therein. The shaft 86 has formed at the upper end thereof a fiat head 87 with a tripping pin 88 extending horizontally therefrom.

Referring to FIG. 8, the sliding block 44 is moved by a dog 89 which is mounted to the fixed plate 25 by a pin 94. Since the pin 94 extends through an elongated slot 95 formed in the dog, the dog can be moved to the right and against a rack 91, fixed to the block 44. The dog 89 is moved by the tripping pin 88 once during a revolution of the shaft 86. As the tripping pin 88 revolves, it engages a lug 89a extending upward from the dog 89 urging it to the right against the action of the tension spring 90. At the same time, the point of the dog 89 is urged by the tripping pin 88 toward a toothed rack 91, to cause the sliding block 44 to slide to the right along the dovetail groove 45 in the fixed plate 25. As the rack 91 moves to the right, a pawl 92 rides over one of the teeth in the rack 91 to engage the next tooth. Pawl 92 is held in place against the rack 91 by a suitable tension spring 93.

The block 44 is required to slide a sufiicient distance to the right to position two new columns of solenoid pins 27 under the feed tube head 37 whenever shaft 86 makes one revolution. This result is achieved by making the pitch of the teeth (i.e., the distance between corresponding points on adjacent teeth) on the rack 91 equivalent to the center-to-center distance between the solenoid pins in every other column. Then, the length of pin 88 and the angle, that the tripping pin 88 makes with a radial line extending from the axis of the shaft 86, are chosen to cause the dog 89 to move against the toothed rack 91 and to the right the equivalent of one tooth width before the tripping pin 88 disengages the lug 89a on the dog 89. The dog 89 is returned to its original position by the spring 90, while the pawl 92 holds the sliding block 44 in its new position.

Having described in detail how the column indexing assembly 43 operates, the following is a detailed description of the operation of the row indexing assembly 32, indexing the next row of pins under the feed tube head 37. Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, gear 67 actuates the row indexing assembly 32, and a new row is indexed under the feed tube head every time gear 67 makes one revolution. Beca use sixteen rows are to be indexed before the column indexing assembly 43 is to index the next two columns of pins, the gear 67 should make sixteen revolutions while the motor 24 makes one revolution. Also, the gear 67 should be provided with a dwell period or stop for a period of time while motor 24 makes one revolution to allow the column indexing assembly 43 to perform a column indexing operation. As mentioned before, the dwell period is one-ninth of one motor revolution. Therefore, while the motor 24 makes one revolution the gear 67 must make sixteen revolutions and also must stop rotating for a period of time. The dwell period provides sufficient time for the solenoid array form 26 to be returned to its position in front of the machine by the spring 41 and then be moved two columns to the right by the column indexing assembly 43. The rotational speed of the motor 24 is increased in three steps. The first step increases the rotational speed 3:1 and is obtained by a segment gear 96 and a gear 97 on shafts 72 and 103, respectively. The second step increases the rotational speed, also 3:1, and is obtained by gears 98 and 99 on shafts 103 and 104, respectively. The third step increases the rotational speed 2:1 and is obtained by gears 101 and 102 on shafts 104 and 105, respectively. This gives a speed increase of 18: 1, while only sixteen revolutions of gear 67 are required for each motor revolution. Therefore, gear 102 and in turn, gear 67 are stopped by the gear train for a dwell period equal to two revolutions of gear 67. This feature is performed by the segment gear 96 in the same manner as described in my above-mentioned patent application. However, a brief description of the operation of the segment gear 96 follows. Segment gear 96 is made of two gear segments 96a and 96b with a circumferential space between the two segments equal to one-ninth of the circumference. The larger gear segment 96a is keyed to shaft 72 while the smaller segment 96b is rotatable relative to the shaft 72. Then, when the smaller segment 96b engages gear 97, there is sufiicient friction in the gear train to cause the gear train to stop, and the rotating shaft 72 causes a spring 960 on the gear 96 to stretch.

When the larger segment 96a rotates sufliciently to contact the stationary smaller segment 96b, it pushes the smaller segment 96b causing it and gear 97 to rotate. When the smaller segment 96b is free of the gear 97, the spring 960 returns the smaller segment to its position next to the larger segment as shown in FIG. 2. Since gear 97 stops for a period equal to one-ninth of the time it takes the motor to make one revolution, gear 102 and shaft .105 also stop for the same period. Therefore, gear 102 only makes sixteen revolutions every time the motor 24 makes one revolution. Thus, in summary, every time shaft 72 makes one revolution, shaft 103 makes two and two-thirds revolutions, shaft 104 makes eight revolutions, shaft 105 makes sixteen revolutions. Also, shafts 103, 104 and 105 are provided with a dwell period. Having obtained the desired number of revolutions and the desired dwell period on shaft 105, shaft 105 drives (1:1) gear 67 through three gears 106, 107 and 108. Gear 106 is keyed to shaft 105, gear 107, being an idler gear, is keyed to shaft 119, and gear 108 is keyed to shaft 109, which also has the gear 69 keyed thereto.

Since gear 69 drives (1:1) gear 67, gear 67 also makes sixteen revolutions and stops for a period of time during the time motor 24 makes one revolution. Referring also to FIG. 4, gear 67 actuates the row indexing assembly 32 in the following manner: Gear 67 is keyed to one end of a spline shaft 110 that is bearing mounted to two bearing tabs 111 (see also FIG. 3) depending from and bolted to opposite ends of the fixed plate 25. Spline shaft 110 slidably engages a helical gear 112 whereby gear 112 rotates with the shaft 110 but can also slide axially along the shaft. The gear 112 is restrained from rotating about the spline shaft 110 by two dowel pins 112a (FIG. 2) suitably placed within gear 112. Also, gear 112 is restrained from sliding with respect to the block 44 by a retaining member 113 depending from the sliding block 44 and extending through a large opening 114 (FIG. 4), formed in the fixed plate 25. The gear 112 engages and rotates (1:1) another helical gear 116 that is keyed to a vertically disposed shaft that is suitably bearing mounted within a bore (FIG. 5) in the sliding block 44.

Referring to FIG. 3, every time shaft 115 rotates one revolution, a ratchet dog 122 in the row indexing assembly 32 is actuated by an axially extending l ug 11-8 eccentrically disposed on a flat head 117 formed at the upper end of the shaft 115. The lug 118 contacts a pin 121 on the dog 122 to move the dog reanward against the force of a tension spring 124. The pin 121 extends inwardly into an elongated opening 123 formed in the dog 122 as shown, and the head 117 is also disposed within the opening. The motion of the dog 122 is directed by guides 125 so that, as the dog is moved rearwardly by the lug 118, the point of the dog contacts and rotates a ratchet wheel 126 to rotate the wheel clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3. When the lug 118 releases the pin 121, the spring 124- returns the dog 122 to its original position. The ratchet wheel 126 is held in its new position by a pawl 127 urged against the wheel 126 by a tension spring 128.

The ratchet wheel 126 meshes with a toothed rack 129 on the solenoid carrier plate 33 whereby the rack 129 is moved rearwardly whenever the wheel 126 rotates clockwise. In this embodiment the circular pitch of the teeth on the wheel 126 is made equal to center-to-center distance between the two adjacent rows of pins 27. Therefore, the lug 118 and the pin 121 on the dog are so positioned that the lug 118 moves the dog 122 a distance sufiicient to rotate the ratchet wheel 126 one tooth, and then the lug 11 8 releases the dog. The pawl 127 with the help of a toggle spring 128 holds the ratchet wheel 126 in the new position thereby placing another row of pins 27 under the feed tube head 37.

Referring to FIG. 3a, as mentioned before, the shaft 115 makes sixteen revolutions and then stops or dwells for a period of time. However, when the lug 118 on the head 117 actuates the dog 122 the sixteenth time, the limit rod 130, protruding horizontally from the rack 129, engages an upwardly protruding lug 131 on the pawl 127 causing the pawl 127 to rotate counter clockwise so that the toggle spring 128 now holds the pawl away from the ratchet wheel 126 and against a pin 132. Since the ratchet wheel 126 is free to rotate, the spring 41 extending under the rack 129 to a pin 129a, pulls the carrier plate 33 forward. When the carrier plate 33 reaches the front of the machine, another limit rod 133 on the rack 129 engages the lug 131 to rotate the pawl 127 clockwise against the ratchet wheel. The pawl 127 again engages and stops the ratchet wheel 126 so that the carrier plate 33 is stopped in the forward position. In the meantime, the shaft 115 has stopped rotating because, as mentioned above, by this time the smaller gear segment 96b has meshed with gear 97. The segment gear 96 provides a sufficiently long dwell period so that the carrier plate 33 can return to its forward position and then can be indexed to the right by the column indexing assembly 43 in the manner previously described. After the carrier plate 33 is indexed to the right, the larger segment 96a of the segment gear 96 contacts the smaller segment 96]) causing gear 97 to rotate.

Having described in detail how the row indexing assembly 32 operates, the following is a detailed description of the operation of the feed tube head 37 winding five evenly spaced turns on the pins 27. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the oscillating motion of the feed tube head 37 is produced by vertical shafts 135 having eccentric portions 136 (FIG. projecting from the upper end. The shafts 135 are suitably bearing mounted to the fixed plate 25 by bushing 134. The eccentric portions 136 are suitably hearing mounted within vertically disposed tubes 137 fixed to the under side of a horizontal bracket 138 of the feed tube head 37. Since five turns are required on each coil 36, the shafts 135 are rotated five times by the gear drive 22 for each revolution of gear 102 on shaft 105 (FIG. 2), which, as mentioned above, actuates the row indexing assembly 32 and rotates sixteen times each time the motor 24 rotates once. The shafts 135 should also be provided with a dwell period during the same period that shaft 105 makes one revolution so that a row indexing operation may be performed. Therefore, this dwell period for shafts 135 is referred to as the row indexing period (FIG. and is equal to two-sevenths of the time that shaft 105 makes one revolution. Both shafts 135 make five revolutions and then stop or dwell for a period of time while the shaft 105 makes one revolution. First, the increase in rotation speed between shafts 105 and 135 is obtained in two steps. Referring to FIG. 2, the first step increases the rotation speed 3 /2 :1 and is obtained by a segment gear 139 and a gear 140 on shafts 105 and 141, respectively. The second step increases the rotational speed 2:1 and is produced by gears 143 and 144 on shafts 141 and 142, respectively. This gives a speed increase of 7 to 1, while only five revolutions of shaft 135 are required for each revolution of shaft 105. However, like segment gear 96, segment gear 139 is made of two gear segments 139a and 13% but with a circumferential space between the two segments equal to two-sevenths of the circumference. Then, when the smaller segment 139b, which rotates freely on shaft 105, engages gear 140, shaft 141 stops and a spring 139a on the gear stretches. When the larger segment 139a contacts the smaller segment, gear 140 again starts to rotate. Since the gear 140 stops for two-sevenths of the time it takes shaft 105 to make one revolution, shaft 142 makes five revolutions every time shaft 105 makes one revolution. Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, the shaft 142 rotates 1:1) both vertical shafts 135 through bevel gears 145. Thus, whenever shafts 135 rotate and because the eccentric portions 136 engage the bracket 138, the bracket 138 oscillates in a horizontal plane causing the feed tubes 38 fixed to the bracket 138 to orbit about respective pins. Since the conductors 31 are threaded through the tubes 38 and held by the follow bar 1O 47, the conductors 31 are wound about the pins by the orbiting feed tubes as shown in FIG. 7a.

In order to wind solenoid coils with a single layer of turns, the bracket 138 holding the feed tubes 38 is raised, as it oscillates, by two cams 146 (FIG. 2) disposed on shaft 105. Each cam 146 is engaged by a respective cam follower 147, extending through a vertically disposed guide 148, fixed to the plate 25. Each cam 147 is spring biased toward cam 146 by compression spring 148'. On top of both cam followers 147 rests the bracket 138. Vertical adjustment for the feed tube head 37 is provided by screws 149 (FIG. 5). Since shaft has rotated once while the feed tube head has made five oscillations, the cams 146 gradually lift the feed tube head 37 as the head oscillates and then the cams allow the head to drop abruptly as shown in FIG. 1012 after the next row of pins is indexed under the feed tube head 37. Suitably disposed compression springs (FIG. 5) around the eccentric portions 136 help urge the feed tube head 37 downwardly.

While the feed tube head 37 is winding the solenoid coils 36, the follow bar head 46 (FIG. 4) is also being raised so that the follow bar 47 clears the pins when the carrier plate 33 is being indexed. Then the follow bar head 46 is dropped (see FIG. 100) in order to fold the conductors 31 against the last Wound coils. Referring to FIG. 2, and as mentioned before, this operation of the follow bar head 46 is performed by two cams 151 also keyed to shaft 105. As the cams 151 rotate, cam followers 152 follow the cams 151. Cam followers 152 are disposed within vertical guides 153 fixed to the plate 25 (see FIG. 4). The upper end of the cam followers 152 are press fitted into openings disposed on opposite ends of a follow bar bracket 154 of the follow bar head 46. Referring to FIG. 6, wherein is shown a plan view of the follow bar head 46, the follow bar 47 is shown fixed to the center of the bracket 154. The cams 151 for the follow bar are shaped so that the follow bar 47 is held against the die plate 28 while the feed tube head 37 performs the first two oscillations, and then the cams 151 raise the follow bar 47 above the pins before the row indexing operation is performed. The cams 151 allow the follow bar 47 to drop abruptly in front of the last wound coils 36 after the array form 26 is stepped rearwardly, bending the conductors downward in order to fold the conductors against the last two wound coils (see FIG. 7b). The follow bar 47 also forces the return portion 31a (FIG. 7) of the conductors 31 for the two previously wound columns against the straight lengths 31b of conductors between the solenoid coils 36 as indicated at region A in FIG. 7.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the conductor supply means 29, including two rotatable supply bobbin units 156, is shown for supplying two conductors 31 to the respective feed tubes 38 on the head 37. Each bobbin unit 156 rotates on a vertical axis to produce axial rotation for each of the conductors 31 to prevent twisting of these conductors during the winding of the solenoid coils 36. The rotatable bobbin units 156 are rotatably mounted on a bobbin platform 157 that is supported over the table assembly 23 by two brackets 158. The bobbin units 156 are coupled to and are driven (1: 1) by a vertical drive shaft 159 and chain 160, as shown. The vertical drive shaft 159 is driven (2:1) by helical gears 162 (FIG. 2) mounted on shafts 159 and 161, respectively. In turn, shaft 161 is driven (2 /2 :1) by spur gear 106, mounted on. shaft 105, driving a spur gear 163, mounted on shaft 161. Thus, the vertical drive shaft 159 makes five revolutions every time the feed tube head 37 makes five oscillations.

The two conductors 31 that are supplied from respective bobbin units 156 are drawn therefrom under tension through the respective feed tubes 38 to the solenoid array form 26. Referring to FIG. 11 wherein the details of one of the bobbin units 156 are shown, one of the conductors 31 is pulled from a bobbin 164 through a hollow shaft 165 by one of the feed tubes 38 whenever the solenoid coils 36 are wound and the array form 26 is indexed. Each bobbin unit 156 includes a yoke 166 that rotatably supports the bobbin 164. The yoke 166 is fixed to the upper end of the hollow shaft 165. In turn, the shaft 165 is mounted in a bushing 170 fixed to the platform 157 so that the bobbin unit 156 rotates about a vertical axis. One arm 167 of the yoke 166 is made thin and flexible and of a spring-like material, for example, berylliumcopper, and the arm 167 is biased against the bobbin 164 by a bolt 168 to provide a drag brake for the bobbin. The drag on the bobbins 164 is uniform (e.g., onequarter oz.) and is adjustable by rotating bolt 168 whereby the conductors can be held taut without interfering with the winding of the coils 36 and indexing of the array form 26. Keyed to each shaft 165 is a sprocket 169 which is engaged by the chain 160 (FIG. 1) so that the bobbin units 156 are rotated within the bushing 170 by the chain 160.

In the embodiment of the invention described, the machine winds two coils at a time so that the end product, a solenoid panel, has an array of solenoid coils wound in two separate series circuits. Solenoid panels of this type are required in the memory disclosed in the above mentioned Donal A. Meier copending application. The teachings of this invention are also useful to provide a machine which is able to wind all the solenoid coils in a panel one series circuit or more than two series circuits.

Therefore, in the light of the above teachings, various modifications and variations of the present invention are contemplated and will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical solenoid array winding machine comprising: a support and a plurality of individual solenoid pins disposed in rows and columns on said support for receiving individual solenoid coils; conductor supply means for supplying at least one conductor; guiding means for guiding said conductor to a respective solenoid pin for winding said conductor thereon; means for providing relative movement between said support and said guiding means to wind a plurality of turns of said conductor about one of said solenoid pins and thereby form a solenoid coil; row indexing means for positioning the support relative to the guiding means to successively align said guiding means to the next solenoid pin in the same column of solenoid pins after a solenoid coil has been wound on said one solenoid pin; and column indexing means for relatively positioning the support and guiding means to align another column of solenoid pins with the guiding means so that a solenoid coil can be wound by said guiding means on each solenoid pin in said other column with the same integral length of conductor used to wind solenoid coils to the previous column.

2. An electrical solenoid array winding machine comprising: a support and a plurality of individual solenoid pins disposed in rows and columns on said support for receiving individual solenoid coils; conductor supply means for supplying at least one conductor; guiding means for guiding said conductor to a respective solenoid pin for winding said conductor thereon; means for providing relative movement between said support and said guiding means to wind a plurality of turns of said conductor about one of said solenoid pins and thereby form a solenoid coil; row indexing means for positioning the support relative to the guiding means to successively align said guiding means to the next solenoid pin the same column of solenoid pins after a solenoid coil has been wound on said one solenoid pin; means for relatively positioning the support and guiding means for realigning said guiding means with the pin in the first row on said support after all the solenoid coils are wound on pins in one column so that the conductor loops back along a path adjacent the straight lengths of conductor, the coils in the respective column being series connected so as to be capable of substantially cancelling out any stray circular magnetic fields formed around the straight lengths of conductor; and column indexing means for relatively positioning the support and guiding means to align another column of solenoid pins with the guiding means so that a solenoid coil is successively wound on each solenoid pin in said other column with the same integral length of conductor used to wind solenoid coils in the previous column.

3. An electrical solenoid array winding machine comprising: a support and a plurality of individual solenoid pins disposed on said support for receiving individual solenoid coils; conductor supply means for supplying at least one conductor; guiding means for guiding said conductor to a respective solenoid pin for winding said conductor thereon; means coupled to said guiding means for moving said guiding means about one of said solenoid pins to wind the conductor about said one solenoid pin and thereby form a solenoid coil; a follow bar and a follow bar control means for positioning the follow bar in stationary relationship with respect to said support as said solenoid coil is being formed for holding the conductor against the said support with the conductor folded from the top of a previously wound solenoid.

4. An electrical solenoid array winding machine comprising: a support and a plurality of individual solenoid pins disposed on said support for receiving individual solenoid coils; conductor supply means for supplying at least one conductor; guiding means for guiding said conductor to a respective solenoid pin for winding said conductor thereon; means for orbiting said guiding means about one of said solenoid pins to wind a plurality of turns of said conductor about said one of said solenoid pins and thereby form a solenoid coil; means for relatively positioning the support and guiding means to align another solenoid pin with said guiding means after a solenoid coil has been wound on said one solenoid pin; and a follow bar and follow bar control means to drop said follow bar down against said support after said other pin has been positioned adjacent said guiding means to fold the conductor from the top of the previously wound coil thereagainst and to remain in stationary relationship with respect to said support while another solenoid coil is being wound on said other pin.

5. An electrical solenoid array winding machine comprising: a support and a plurality of individual solenoid pins disposed in rows and columns on said support for receiving individual solenoid coils; conductor supply means for supplying at least one conductor to be wound into an array of series-connected solenoid coils; guiding means for guiding said conductor to a respective solenoid pin for winding said conductor thereon; means for orbiting said guiding means about one of said solenoid pins to wind a plurality of turns of said conductor about one of said solenoid pins and thereby form a solenoid coil; row indexing means for positioning the support relative to the guiding means to successively align said guiding means to the next solenoid pin in the same column of solenoid pins after a solenoid coil has been wound on said one solenoid pin; first dwell means for providing a dwell period for said means for orbiting said guiding means when said row indexing means is aligning said next pin with the guiding means; column indexing means for aligning another column of solenoid pins with said guiding means so that a solenoid coil is wound on each solenoid pin in said other column with the same length of conductor, used to wind solenoid coils in the previous column; and second dwell means for providing a dwell period for said means for orbiting said guiding means and for said row indexing means when said column indexing means is aligning another column of pins with the guiding means.

6. An electrical solenoid array winding machine comprising: a support and a plurality of individual solenoid pins disposed on said support for receiving individual solenoid coils; conductor supply means for supplying at least one conductor; guiding means for guiding said conductor to a respective solenoid pin for winding said conductor thereon; means coupled to said guiding means for moving said guiding means about one of said solenoid pins to wind the conductor about said one solenoid pin and thereby form a solenoid coil; means for successively positioning said support to move another solenoid pin adjacent said guiding means after a solenoid coil has been wound on said one solenoid pin to form an array of seriesconnected solenoid coils; a follow bar and follow bar control means for positioning the follow bar in stationary relationship with respect to said support as said solenoid coil is being formed for holding the conductor against the support with the conductor folded from the top of the previously wound solenoid coil; said follow bar control means raising said follow bar above said pins before said means for positioning said support moves another pin adjacent said guiding means.

7. An electrical solenoid array winding machine comprising: a support and a plurality of individual solenoid pins disposed in rows and columns on said support for receiving individual solenoid coils; conductor supply means for supplying at least one conductor to be wound into a series of solenoid coils; guiding means for guiding said conductor to a respective solenoid pin for winding said conductor thereon; means for orbiting said guiding means about one of said solenoid pins to wind a plurality of turns of said conductor about said one solenoid pin and thereby form a solenoid coil; row indexing means for aligning another solenoid pin in the same column of solenoid pins with said guiding means after a solenoid coil has been wound on said one solenoid pin; first dwell means for providing a dwell period for said means for orbiting said guiding means when said row indexing means is aligning said other pin with said guiding means; column indexing means for aligning another column of solenoid pins with said guiding means so that a solenoid coil is wound on each solenoid pin in said other column with the same integral length of conductor, used to wind solenoid coils in the previous column; second dwell means for providing a dwell period for said means for orbiting said guiding means and a dwell period for said row indexing means when said column indexing means is aligning another column of solenoid pins with the guiding means; a follow bar and follow bar control means to drop said follow bar down against said support after said other pin has been positioned adjacent said guiding means to fold the conductor from the top of the previously wound coil thereagainst and to remain in stationary relationship with respect to said support while another solenoid coil is being wound on said other pin; and said follow bar control means raising said follow bar above said pins after a solenoid coil is wound on one pin and before another pin is positioned adjacent said guiding means.

8. An electrical solenoid array winding machine comprising: a support and a plurality of solenoid pins disposed in rows and columns on said support for receiving individual solenoid coils; conductor supply means for supplying at least one conductor; guiding means for guiding said conductor to a respective solenoid pin for winding said conductor thereon; means for providing relative movement between said support and said guiding means to wind a plurality of turns of said conductor about one of said solenoid pins and thereby form a solenoid coil; row indexing means for positioning the support relative to the guiding means to successively align said guiding means to the next solenoid pin in the same column of solenoid pins after a solenoid coil has been wound on said one solenoid pin; first dwell means for providing a dwell period for said means for providing relative movement between said support and said guiding means when said row indexing means is aligning the next pin with said guiding means; means for positioning the support for realigning said guiding means to the first solenoid pin in the column after a solenoid coil has been wound on the last solenoid pin in the respective column so that the conductor from the last wound solenoid in the column lies next to the interconnecting conductor lengths between solenoid coils in the column; column indexing means for aligning another column of solenoid pins with said guiding means so that a solenoid coil can be wound by said guiding means on each solenoid pin in said other column with the same integral length of conductor used to wind solenoid coils in the previous column; and second dwell means for providing a dwell period for said means for providing relative movement between said support and said guiding meansand a dwell period for said row indexing means when the support is positioned for re-aligning said guiding means to the first solenoid pin in the column and when said column indexing means is positioning the support for aligning another column of solenoid pins with said guiding means.

9. An electrical solenoid array winding machine comprising: a frame for said machine; a table assembly mounted on said frame; a support having a plurality of solenoid pins arranged in rows and columns, and means mounting said support on said table assembly for movement thereon in two directions; a motor mounted on said frame; a gear train mounted on said frame to couple power from said motor to move said support in two directions relative to sai dtable; conductor supply means for suprelative to said table; conductor; guiding means having at least one guide tube and said conductor passing therethrough for guiding said conductor to a respective solenoid pin for winding said conductor thereon; said gear train including means to power said guiding means so that said guide tube orbits around one of said pins and thereby forms a solenoid coil; said gear train including cam means for moving-said guiding means and said guide tube in a direction axial to said pins so that the pitch of the solenoid coil is controlled; row indexing means disposed on said table assembly and powered by said gear train for successively positioning said support in one of said directions so that another solenoid coil may be wound on the next pin in the same column by said guiding means; and column indexing means disposed on said table assembly and powered by said gear train for successively positioning said support in the other of said directions so that another column of pins is positioned in line with said guide tube to wind solenoid coils on respective pins in said other column.

10. An electrical solenoid array winding machine com,- prising: a frame for said machine; a table assembly including a fixed plate having a groove formed in one surface thereof and mounted to said frame; a sliding block having a groove formed in one surface thereof and mounted in sliding relationship within said groove formed in said fixed plate, and said groove in said sliding block being disposed at right angles to said groove in said fixed plate; a solenoid carrier plate mounted in sliding relationship within said groove formed in said sliding block so that said solenoid carrier plate is movable in two directions; a support having a plurality of solenoid pins disposed in rows and columns for receiving individual solenoid coils, said support being mounted on said solenoid carrier plate; conductor supply means for supplying at least one conductor to be wound into solenoid coils; guiding means having at least one guide tube and said conductor passing therethrough for guiding said conductor to a respective solenoid pin for Winding said conductor thereon; a motor and a gear train mounted on said frame and being coupled to said guiding means so that said guide tube orbits around one of said pins and thereby form a solenoid coil; row indexing means disposed on said sliding block for successively positioning said solenoid carrier plate along said groove, formed in said sliding block, so that another solenoid coil may be Wound on the next pin in the same column by said guide tube; and column indexing means disposed on said fixed plate for successively positioning said sliding block along said groove, formed in said fixed plate, so that another column of pins is positioned in line with said guide tube to have solenoid coils Wound on respective pins in said other column; said gear train being also coupled to said row indexing means and to said column indexing means; and said gear train including a first dwell means for providing a dwell period for said guiding means while said row indexing means places said next pin in position to have a solenoid coil wound thereon, and a second dwell means for providing a dwell period for said row indexing means and for said guiding means while said column indexing means places said other column in position to have solenoid coils wound on the pins in said other column.

11. An electrical solenoid array Winding machine comprising: a frame for said machine; a table assembly including a fixed plate having a groove formed in one surface thereof and mounted to said frame; a sliding block having a groove formed in one surface thereof and mounted in sliding relationship within said groove formed in said fixed plate and with said groove in said sliding block oriented at right angles to the said groove in said fixed plate; a solenoid carrier plate mounted in sliding relationship within said groove fonmed in said sliding block so that said solenoid carrier plate is movable in two directions; a support having a plurality of solenoid pins disposed in rows and columns for receiving individual solenoid coils; said support being mounted on said solenoid carrier plate; conductor supply means for sup plying at least one conductor to be wound into solenoid coils; guiding means having at least one guide tube and said conductor passing therethrough for guiding said conductor to a respective solenoid pin for winding said conductor thereon; a motor and a grear train mounted on said frame and being coupled to said guiding means so that said guide tube orbits around one of said pins and thereby forms a solenoid coil; row indexing means disposed on said sliding block for successively positioning said solenoid carrier plate along said groove formed in said sliding block so that another solenoid coil may be wound on the next pin in the same column by said guiding means; imeans disposed on said solenoid carrier plate for tripping said row indexing means, after the last pin in a respective column has been wound, for returning the first pin in said respective column adjacent said guide tube so that the conductor loops back and lies adjacent the lengths of conductor interconnecting the solenoid coils in said respective column; and column indexing means disposed on said fixed plate for successively positioning said slidin'g block along said groove formed in said fixed plate so that another column of pins is positioned in line with said guide tube to have solenoid coils wound on respective pins in said other column; said gear train being coupled to said row indexing means and to said column indexing means; said gear train including a first dwell means for providing a dwell period for said guiding means while said row indexing means places said next pin in position to have a solenoid coil Wound thereon; and a second dwell means for providing a dwell period for said row indexing means and for said guiding means while said column indexing means places said other column in position to have solenoid coils wound on the pins in said other column.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,862,671 12/1958 Dimond 242-7 2,855,159 10/1958 Mallina 2427 2,963,051 12/1960 Shaw et al 2427 X 2,939,367 6/1960 Thomas 26958 X 3,019,822 2/1962 Jacobson 242-7 X 3,106,351 10/1963 Fulton 242-9 3,185,184 5/1965 Loy et a1. 140-93 X 3,186,077 6/1965 Viokery 140-93 X BILLY S. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,410,317 November 12, 1968 Ivan Virgil Rondas It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 45, "27" should read 37 Column 14, lines 25 and 26, cancel "relative to sai dtable; conductor supply means for suprelati've-vto said table; conductor; guiding means having at" and insert relative to said table,- conductor supply means for supplying at least one conductor; guiding means having at Signed and sealed this 10th day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

3. AN ELECTRICAL SOLENOID ARRAY WINDING MACHINE COMPRISING: A SUPPORT AND A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL SOLENOID PINS DISPOSED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR RECEIVING INDIVIDUAL SOLENOID COILS; CONDUCTOR SUPPLY MEANS FOR SUPPLYING AT LEAST ONE CONDUCTOR; GUIDING MEANS FOR GUIDING SAID CONDUCTOR TO A RESPECTIVE SOLENOID PIN FOR WINDING SAID CONDUCTOR THEREON; MEANS COUPLED TO SAID GUIDING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID GUIDING MEANS ABOUT ONE OF SAID SOLENOID PINS TO WIND THE CONDUCTOR ABOUT SAID ONE SOLENOID PIN AND THEREBY FORM A SOLENOID COIL; A FOLLOW BAR AND A FOLLOW BAR CONTROL MEANS FOR POSITIONING THE FOLLOW BAR IN STATIONARY RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO SAID SUPPORT AS SAID SOLENOID COIL IS BEING FORMED FOR HOLDING THE CONDUCTOR AGAINST THE SAID SUPPORT WITH THE CONDUCTOR FOLDED FROM THE TOP OF A PREVIOUSLY WOUND SOLENOID. 